The long-term maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) agreement was signed between InterGlobe Aviation Limited, the owners of IndiGo, and the Lankan national carrier.

IndiGo’s fleet, which consists of 78 Airbus A320 aircraft, will undergo the vital “C” checks at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota.

A “C” check is performed approximately every 20–24 months, or a specific amount of actual flight hours, or as defined by the manufacturer. This extensive check requires inspection of a large majority of the aircraft components at a hangar, putting the aircraft out of service for almost two weeks.

SriLankan Airlines has been providing such MRO services to IndiGo since 2009 on an annual contract basis. The airline conducted the 100th IndiGo “C” check in January this year.

India is yet to develop an MRO industry. According to industry observers, high taxes, customs duties and value-added taxes raise the cost of a C check by 43 per cent in India. Aviation experts believe by 2020 India’s carriers will spend around $1.5 billion on MRO services.